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Protocol

Diseases

Description:

Hepatic veno-occlusive disease (VOD) is a disease when the blood vessels that carry blood through the liver become swollen and blocked causing the liver to not remove toxins, drugs and other waste products from the bloodstream. Hepatic VOD, is one of the most serious and common complications that arises in patients who have undergone high dose chemotherapy exposure followed by Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation (transplantation of blood stem cells derived from the bone marrow or blood). VOD develops in 10-60% of patients after hematopoietic stem cell transplant and ranges in severity from mild, reversible disease to a severe syndrome associated with multi-organ failure and death.

The medication Defibrotide is obtained from the tissue of pigs (a “porcine” based medication). The manufacturer prepares the medication to assure that there are no germs in the product that could be transmitted to the recipient. It is believed that Defibrotide works by preventing the blood from clotting and the blood vessels from becoming swollen and “inflamed.” Results from early human studies suggest that Defibrotide may help to decrease or resolve hepatic VOD.

Objectives

This research study is evaluating an investigational drug called Defibrotide as a possible treatment for hepatic VOD.This means that Defibrotide is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for use outside of a research study.

The primary (main) goal of this study is to provide Defibrotide to patients with VOD. At present there is no known curative therapy for this disorder. This study seeks to better understand the effects (good and bad) of Defibrotide in patients with severe VOD.

Eligibility

The patient must have diagnosis of hepatic VOD

Patients must also provide voluntary written informed consent to the protocol to be eligible for the study.

For the current eligibility status of this clinical study, referring physicians must contact St. Jude Children's Research Hospital at 1-866-2ST-JUDE (1-866-278-5833).

For all other inquiries about St. Jude Children's Research Hospital studies: info@stjude.org

The above information is intended to provide only a basic description about a research protocol that may be currently active at St. Jude. The details made available here may not be the most up-to-date information on protocols used by St. Jude. To receive full details about a protocol and its status and or use at St. Jude, a physician must contact St. Jude directly.